Even horse-trainer Rob Heathcote can see the affect Conor McKenna’s had in his AFL second-coming on the Brisbane Lions.
“He’s a terrific bloke and I tell you what, he’s a sneaky good footballer too,” Heathcote advised AAP.
“I love those dinky Gaelic kicks and his run and carry; he’s great to watch.”
It could as properly have been certainly one of McKenna’s coaches speaking.
The Irish recruit’s elegant season after two years again residence enjoying Gaelic soccer has been hailed as “phenomenal” by Lions soccer boss Danny Daly.
He’ll play his one centesimal sport on Saturday towards Adelaide, a milestone that appeared far-fetched when a homesick McKenna left the nation after six seasons with Essendon in 2020.
The defender has performed all 20 video games for Brisbane and been a “breath of fresh air” in a Lions again six that is pushed the membership’s premiership credentials up a notch.
McKenna was in talks with Port Adelaide, Geelong, St Kilda and the Bombers earlier than deciding on Brisbane, the place he felt they might win a flag.
But that is the place Heathcote comes into it, the AFL star needed to be round horses too.
McKenna purchased and skilled a number of of the animals when he moved residence, one thing his father and grandfather had performed earlier than him.
The Lions’ property supervisor additionally works for Heathcote, who boasts retired champion Buffering amongst his many stars.
The 27-year-old is trackside earlier than daybreak every time attainable to assist Heathcote within the stables.
“I like it so much when he walks in here and you can see the enjoyment and the passion he has for being at the coalface,” Heathcote stated.
McKenna, who made no secret of his disdain for Melbourne’s soccer bubble when he left the Bombers, stated the stables had been his sanctuary.
“Down there at 5am in the morning for a couple of hours with Rob … I just love horses; being around them gives you a break from football.
“(Training horses) is one thing I’ll have a look at doing after I return residence.”
McKenna signed a one-year deal with Brisbane, Daly confirming the club was in talks with his management to extend that.
“He needed to present it a 12 months to see if he liked it once more,” Daly said.
The club is confident he does, Daly admitting McKenna’s immediate impact surprised them all.
“He’s been a breath of contemporary air down the again,” he stated.
“Considering he is had two years away enjoying a special sport and are available again and performed what he is performed, it is fairly phenomenal in a top-four workforce.”
McKenna won an All-Ireland Championship with Tyrone while he was home, where he played as a star forward and admitted he rarely went to the gym.
The Lions floated the idea of a role up-front but McKenna was keen to make his mark in Brisbane’s back six with his trademark dash and dare.
“I used to be fairly bullish; I needed to play as many video games as attainable, all if I might,” he stated.
“That was the problem, to return into a great facet in Brisbane and attempt to get a place, but it surely’s paid off thus far.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
